New Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls spent Wednesday morning debating issues including recycling, school lunches and whether football is a man's game with a more youthful governing body - the student parliament at cross-communal secondary JCoSS.

Mr Balls was at the Barnet school to meet pupils from its first intake who have been elected by their peers to serve in the JCoSS cabinet.

Along with JCoSS chair Gerald Ronson, he talked to the representatives for education, health, sport and the environment.

LEADING Jewish education figures have reacted with outrage on learning that two Progressive rabbis are to lobby the government to prevent state-funded faith schools using a child's or parent's religion in determining admission.

An Orthodox rabbi who has campaigned against a children's organisation run by the Kabbalah Centre has called on the government department responsible for education to "pull the plug" on its access to schools.

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, minister of Mill Hill United Synagogue, wrote privately to Children, Schools and Families secretary Ed Balls after it was revealed in June that Spirituality For Kids (SFK) - an offshoot of the Kabbalah Centre - had been holding lessons in six schools in the London boroughs of Westminster and Tower Hamlets.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has promised to revisit the question of how to help Jewish schools meet security costs amid frustration at the lack of tangible support.

Last autumn, the government announced that local councils would be allowed to help with capital expenditure on security, but some councils have said there is no money available.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the first UK “Salute to Israel” parades in London and Manchester on June 29.

The London parade, which will start at midday on the corner of Berkeley Street and Piccadilly, will culminate in a Trafalgar Square rally at 2pm. Supporters can expect a visual spectacle as they watch marching bands and floats sponsored by companies, including the JC, and communal organisations.

The rally will be compered by LBC radio host Nick Ferrari, with guests including Knesset member Isaac Herzog and Ed Balls MP.